There is something that does not fully add up in the way we often talk about Curaçao. We hear that the economy is growing, tourism is performing well and the future looks promising. All of that may be true. But the 2025 Social Survey by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) presents another reality: a country that appears socially stable, while at the same time a large part of its families continue to face serious financial challenges. This contrast should make every policymaker stop and reflect.
The value of this report lies in the fact that it shows Curaçao remains strong in many areas. More than half of the population feels safe in their neighborhood at night. The vast majority of households have not been victims of the types of crime measured in the survey. More than 80 percent of households have internet access, and many residents regularly make use of medical services. These indicators show that our community remains resilient.
But beneath this appearance of stability lies a much more concerning reality.
Nearly two out of every three households indicate that their income is not sufficient to purchase new furniture. The same proportion cannot afford a vacation abroad. More than half struggle to meet payments on loans or other debts. And for everyday expenses such as buying clothing, eating healthy food or occasionally going out with family, many people have to think twice before spending money.
These are not issues about luxury.
These are indicators of basic financial security.
A family without financial reserves lives with constant uncertainty. A broken car, a refrigerator that stops working or an unexpected illness can be enough to push a household into financial difficulty. This type of vulnerability does not appear in macroeconomic figures, but it determines how people experience their daily lives.
That is why the report raises a fundamental question:
If the economy is growing, who is actually experiencing that growth?
An increase in Gross Domestic Product can be positive news. But if a large part of the population does not see improvements in their daily lives, we cannot conclude that prosperity has reached everyone.
This is the most important lesson from the 2025 Social Survey.
The CBS does not make policy. Its role is to measure, analyze and publish data that can serve as a foundation for public discussion. The responsibility to draw conclusions and make decisions belongs to the government, Parliament and society as a whole.
Too often, public debate revolves around individual incidents: a crime case, a political dispute or an economic growth figure. The 2025 Social Survey forces us to look at gradual developments that may take place slowly but have much greater long-term consequences for our community.
A country does not become vulnerable overnight.
It begins when more and more families struggle to cover normal living expenses, when they cannot build financial reserves and when every unexpected expense becomes a source of concern.
The results of this survey demand honesty.
Honesty to recognize that economic growth is not an objective by itself. It is a tool to improve people’s lives.
Economic growth is not just a number. An economy grows for people. And the 2025 Social Survey clearly shows that for too many families in Curaçao, that growth has not yet reached their homes.
drs. Luigi A. Faneyte MSc. CFE CICA CCS
Politician | Economist | Financial Expert | Consultant | Auditor | Analyst | Researcher | Lecturer
Contributor to the PAR parliamentary faction in the Curaçao Parliament